Summer 2008 Weblog
Week 1
By John Boothroyd
Despite the wet weather, the first week of the 13th season of S.H.A.R.P. got off to a cracking start. With only a 4 week season being undertaken this year, the decision was made to further our understanding of the northern end of Chalkpit field. With this in mind, a plan was formulated which continued the strategy from 2007, thus sinking more evaluation trenches, however slightly south of last year’s. With this agreed upon and the machine booked, we intended to sink 4 trenches, the largest of which was 20x20, then one 15x4 and two 4x10, however when machining, the 20x20 became 20x24 and linked to the 15x4, which was extended to the west. This left us with one large area known as trench 6, and two smaller trenches 7 and 8 (the numbers 1-5 where used in 2007).
Each week the weblog will aim to provide a breakdown of progress in each trench. This week all work was carried out in trench 6. Read more ...
Week 2
By Katie McKinnon
This week saw a change in the weather for the better which allowed us to continue at a sterling rate, and we have learnt a lot more about our trenches. First of all, early on Saturday morning we brought the big JCB in again to extend Trench 6 and create a new Trench 9 slightly further to the East.
The Northern extension was an attempt to find more of the possible structure related to the beam slot found last week, as it seemed to be extending underneath the spoil heap. This was a success, exposing several other beam slots, many post holes and lots of other negative features besides. We tried to concentrate on this exciting area in our excavations this week, as well as further work on the East-West ditches. The Southern ditch continued to give plenty of Anglo-Saxon pottery sherds, as well as animal bones and shells, confirming the current theory that rather than being part of an Iron Age settlement boundary ditch, it is actually part of an Anglo-Saxon animal enclosure. Read more ...
Week 3
By Piers Pye-Watson
A quieter week for numbers on trench for S.H.A.R.P. this week. Week 2 saw the most volunteers but those who stayed on that little longer got to enjoy fabulous weather and so work resumed without the hindrance of sudden heavy showers!
Aside from John’s SE corner, the extended area of Trench 6 from week 2 was once again the focus for our volunteers with some promising results. Many features keep appearing in the area north of the large boundary enclosure, all of which are supporting the theory of the settlement being situated here, as suggested by our geo-physical survey. With the earlier finding of the two beam slots it could now be the case that we are indeed excavating Saxon building remains, although evidence such as floors may have been lost due to ploughing. However the hunt continues to understand the area before the season is through. Read more ...
Week 4
By John Hensby
Well, it has been left to me to produce this weeks web-log. Alas it is also the last one of the 2008 season, which was a shorter than normal one, partly due to non archaeological items, thankfully now resolved. In 2009 we hope to be back with a 6 week season.
The week started with the SHARP open day on the Sunday with over 500 people visiting the site in glorious sunny weather. Special thanks go to Pauline for the planning and Amanda and Mark for their services at the café. Read more ...